For many Scots, the service provided by their local GP is the most important part of the NHS. But too often those who need it most are finding it difficult to get appointments.
Simply phoning the surgery in the morning and getting to see a doctor later in the day seems to be a thing of the past. At the same time, GPs themselves are complaining of burn-out as they try to treat more patients with fewer resources.
The Scottish Government was right to pledge to deliver an additional 800 GPs by 2027. But a report from watchdog Audit Scotland today reveals that only an additional 135 GPs have been added.
At the same time, proposals to support GP teams with more nurses, physiotherapists and other specialists have moved more slowly than planned. This means that the pressure on local community doctors has increased.
And that is a disaster for our wider health system. GPs are often the first port of call for people requiring health care. And when problems are treated quickly and effectively, it takes pressure off the wider NHS.
Patients being unable to get appointments puts more stress on our hospitals as they go to A&E instead. Or, more worryingly, they don’t get their symptoms checked at all – and end up with a more serious illness as a result.
When general practice fails, the whole system fails. For that reason, it is time for the Scottish Government to step up and start delivering on their promises to our GPs.
Deadly road risk
Mum Carly McLean has told of the nightmare of losing her unborn child after her car hit a pothole and crashed. She shares her story with our readers today as figures obtained by the Daily Record reveal dozens of people were injured as a result of defects on Scotland’s roads in 2024.
The Record has long reported on the misery that potholes across the country are causing to communities. Experts say a “patch and dash” approach to road safety is putting drivers at risk and that the “sticking plaster effect” will not last. Carly’s story proves that the country’s crumbling roads are not just hitting drivers in the pocket.
They can damage lives. The Scottish Government and local authorities say they are prioritising road safety and doing all they can to keep drivers and pedestrians safe. But it’s clear that, like many cash-starved public services, our roads needs major investment after years of neglect.